“Evelyn, I am serious.” Mayson caught at her arm. “As long as my uncle views me as a threat, anyone near me is in danger. Mr. McElroy, that poor man! I only meant to give him a chance, now look what has happened.”
“He says the new leg is even better than the old one,” Evelyn reassured him. “And I believe the Duchess will keep him on. Jemmy knows to watch for him when he tries too hard.”
Mayson sighed. “I have only wanted to do good.”
“I know.” Evelyn reached out and tucked a lock of hair out of his face. “And you have. This other person, your uncle or whoever it is, that is the person who is doing harm.”
“I know. But sometimes I need reminding. I feel like that person in the fairy tale, Iron John, the one who had the iron bands around his chest to keep his heart from breaking.”
“No broken hearts,” Evelyn said. “I am right here, and I have every intention of staying.”
“Thank you,” Mayson said, pulling her down so that her head rested against his pillow. He leaned his head against hers, taking comfort from her nearness.
A little while later, Dr. Alton came in. “Ah, you two shameless young things!” He exclaimed. “Come now, Mrs. Swinton, go on off to bed. I’ll call Mr. Bruce to sit with him tonight.”
“I am fine,” Evelyn said, sitting up.
“You might be now, but you need some proper rest in a bed, young lady. Off you go now, and let us tend your young gentleman. Go now.”
“Do not worry, Mayson,” she said softly. “I will see to all the arrangements. All shall be well for both of us.”
Then she went away, leaving Mayson to be subjected to an onion and goose-grease plaster for his chest, and another mustard plaster to his feet. Although the treatment was less than pleasant, he had to own that it was easier to breathe, and it felt as if the iron bands around his chest had loosened a little.
Dr. Alton gave him a draught to help still the cough, and to allow him to sleep.
His last thoughts before he drifted to sleep were of traveling with Evelyn, viewing strange sights and even stranger creatures together. It was a far more pleasant prospect than the idea of fighting for an inheritance he was not sure he even wanted.
Outside, in the hallway, a shadowy figure slipped away. With a few backward glances, the shadowy person hastened to report, but not without trepidation, for events had not gone as planned.
Chapter 41
True to her word, Evelyn spoke with Mr. Wilson.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Mr. Wilson asked her. “It is quite a leap of faith to go off with a gentleman whom you have known for only a few months.”
“I am sure,” Evelyn said.
Mr. Wilson studied her for a few moments. “I will have a word with the vicar for you, providing that you will do one thing for me.”
“What is that?” Evelyn asked.
“I would like for the two of you to sit down with the vicar and discuss your future. Since he has been wed scarcely more than a year, I feel sure he will understand your situation. Mr. Rudge is an able cook, and is likely to be able to provide well for you, but you are technically still in mourning. I will not ask what has made this so urgent to you. The last few weeks have been harrowing for all of us. But I will tell you that circumstances can change quickly, and things might not be as they seem.”
“I understand that. I would not object to a quiet discussion with the vicar, Mr. Wilson. Nor do I think that it will be a problem for Mr. Rudge.”
“Very well. As soon as Mr. Rudge is sufficiently back on his feet to make the journey down to the village, I will set it up for you. Or I can have the vicar come here to meet with you.”
“Do you think he would mind coming here? I am worried about Mr. Rudge. If we were married, it would give me certain privileges in regards to his care.”
Mr. Wilson made his face very still, but a slight crinkling around his eyes gave away his reaction. “Quite so, Mrs. Swinton. It would attend to the proprieties. I will speak with the vicar. I’m sure he will not mind, providing we can tear him away from his new son.”
“Dr. Alton mentioned he was attending a lying in! So the baby was born?”
“Indeed so. Healthy and whole, with a papa fully prepared to declare his pride from the pulpit, in the market, or anywhere else he can get someone to listen.”
“That is wonderful!” Evelyn declared. “It is so nice to have good news.”
With one thing set in motion, Evelyn went about her duties with a lighter heart. The Duchess seemed in better humor, as well. She sent a scathing letter to the Main House, explaining her dismissal of the two cooks.
